Masbate governor tagged in ‘pork’ scam turns self in to Sandiganbayan

Masbate governor and former representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (center). MARC CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Masbate governor and former representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete on Friday surrendered to the Sandiganbayan for her plunder and graft charges over her alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

This after she surrendered Wednesday night to the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) after the antigraft court issued the warrant of arrest.

She will have her fingerprints taken in the antigraft court. She is currently in the Sandiganbayan Sheriff office.

Lanete is accused of pocketing P108.405 million allegedly siphoned from her Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) from 2004 to 2010.

In its complaint, The Ombudsman said Lanete misused P112.29 million of PDAF from 2007 to 2009. Principal whistleblower Benhur Luy in his ledger said Lanete from 2004 to 2010 received P108.405 million in kickbacks, of which P73.065 million were siphoned from Lanete’s PDAF from 2007 to 2009.

In its indictment, the Ombudsman said “Lanete continuously endorsed the implementation of her PDAF-funded livelihood and agricultural projects to questionable NGOs associated with or controlled by Napoles.”

“(Lanete’s) P112.29 million PDAF was anomalously used for livelihood projects, financial assistance to farmers, farm inputs and farm implements, skills training and distribution of livelihood kits in nail care, wellness, massage and candle-making.  Several Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) were entered into between Lanete, (Technology Resource Center), (National Agribusiness Corp) and the NGO-partners,” the Ombudsman said.

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